Transitions: Third Culture Children

Abstract

This paper reports on a small-scale research study conducted in Singapore, where some 16,000 children are enrolled in ‘foreign schools’. Such children, often termed Third Culture Children, are neither raised entirely in their parents' home country nor as a member of the country where they now live. Pollock and Van Reken (2001) state that the children build relationships to all cultures, while not having full ownership of any country. These children may be confronted with cultural conflict, especially following a move to a new school, and/or entry to a school culture which is significantly different from what they previously experienced. Some are able to resolve the conflict, while others experience difficulties. Feelings of displacement, rejection and unease can be common when children are experiencing a transition of some impact. The research reported here shows the transition experiences of 11 children during the first eight weeks of their move to an international school in Singapore.